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The recent deaths of at least a dozen brown pelicans in Jacksonville’s Mayport fishing village has left state biologists puzzled over the cause and worried it may be a repeat of pelican deaths in the same area five years ago.

There is no evidence that the birds have been slain, though a woman who reported the deaths to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tuesday said some have been decapitated or otherwise harmed, said Karen Parker, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Parker said she and another agency official found a dozen carcasses Wednesday on rocks along the edge of the St. Johns River near Safe Harbor Seafood. She said most of the birds were badly decomposed, but three were in good enough shape to take to the agency’s lab in Gainesville for testing to determine how they died. That may take a few weeks, she said.

Parker said the carcasses showed no sign of foul play.

Parker said about a dozen pictures the Mayport woman sent to investigators shows pelicans in various states of decomposition. She said at least some were possibly the victims of scavengers, including one that was decapitated. It’s unclear if the birds in the pictures were different from those discovered Wednesday.

Parker said the birds were photographed either alone or in groups on rocks along the St. Johns River. It’s unclear how many birds have died.

Parker said about 70 juvenile brown pelicans died five years ago in Mayport, but authorities never determined a cause. She said some were found with bones in their throats, while others were malnourished.

Parker said investigators can’t do anything unless they find proof the recently discovered birds were attacked.

Parker said anyone wishing to report an attack on wildlife can call (888) 404-3922 and/or enter the information in the agency’s database that tracks migratory birds. That website is myfwc.com/research/wildlife/birds.